23426: What the latecomer who joins the prayer with the imam catches up with is the first part of his prayer

I missed a rak’ah of a congregational prayer in which Qur’aan is recited aloud… should I make it up silently or recite out loud? May Allaah reward you and make your efforts weigh heavily in the balance of your good deeds.

Praise be to Allaah.

The correct scholarly view is that whatever the latecomer who
joins the prayer with the imam catches up with is the first part of his
prayer. This is the view of al-Shaafa’i (may Allaah have mercy on him), see
al-Majmoo’ by al-Nawawi, 4/420. The Prophet (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) said: “If you hear the iqaamah then walk to the
prayer, and you must be calm and dignified, and do not hasten. Whatever you
catch up with, pray, and whatever you miss, make it up.” (al-Bukhaari, 636;
Muslim, 602). This is what is meant by whatever the latecomer who joins the
prayer with the imam catches up with being the first part of his prayer.

On this basis, if the latecomer joins the imam in the second
rak’ah of Maghrib prayer, then this rak’ah is the second for the imam and the
first for this person who is praying behind him, then the third rak’ah for
the imam is the second rak’ah for the person praying behind him. Then when
the imam says the salaam, the person behind him should stand up and complete
his prayer, and this will be the third rak’ah for him, and he should recite
al-Faatihah silently in it. And Allaah knows best.